| Regiment | 1st Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Indin, Burma |
| Entry | Following a message received from HOPFORCE at 0800 hrs and that the force had had some food the Commanding Officers decided to improve positions - deeper pits and to put cover over positions. This was continued all day. At 1100 hrs message received. "JOIN BIG JIM" tonight. Ask for BIG JIM on arrival. (ie. to withdraw to KYAUPANDUYWAYA). This was confirmed at 1800 hrs by two messages dropped by air. The COs orders were as follows:- Information of Enemy very little known but expect Post in area of KG 0455 and the spur opposite it. Own Troops - very little known [ ] fighting [ ] INDIN our troops believed in KYAUPANDUYWAYA. INTENTION BN will withdraw to Hopforce HQ COMPLETE and with all portable equipment. METHOD:- Order of March A, 1Pl C Coy, wounded, 2 Pls C Coy, Command Post, D. Bn will form up along path to A Coy closed up. Route - A Coy position to CHUANG (a route previously recced by Capt BARTON). Compass Bearing 293 degree for 2400 yds to track in sq 5404 - Compass Bearing 235 degree down track follow it in to HOPFORCE. NB. Should the Bn be fired on it will take cover and lie doggo until it is over and then continue - it will NOT open fire unless directly assaulted - keep together and go slow. Z - 2200 hrs. ADMIN:- ALL AMMUNITION, TOOLS, CONTAINERS which could not be carried would be buried. Light scales rations to be opened and everyone to feed well. [ ] or man loads would be jettisoned. INTERCOM:- C.P. would follow C Coy. PASS WORD - BIG JIM. Bn left 191 at 2200 hrs. It moved very slowly as the SBs found it difficult to manipulate stretchers in the mullahs. All was quiet until the Bn was SW of Ka. A LMG opened up on D Coy Rear then a MMG on rear pl of C Coy and Command Post. This area was also mortared. A and C Coys were able to continue after a long detour reached HOPFORCE at dawn. The C.O. brought in 11 men earlier but the remainder of the Bn came in in small parties - some through INDIN, some through the hills. On arrival Bn re-organised and ready to take up a defensive position facing E. Total casualties for the ambush - Lt.Col. H.E. Rew DSO - WOUNDED. Lt W.J.H. WIARS - MISSING: ORS. Missing 23 Wounded 13. Remarks: See attached ORDER OF BATN APPENDIX LT. WILKINSON - att to 6 INF |
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